# From the editor
It is sad to report the
passing of another well known village resident, Glen Evans. See personal
tributes paid to him later in this issue. As far as I am concerned as editor,
Glen provided fascinating weather statistics gleaned from a variety of sources
and his copy was always on time for the deadline!
Our Vicar has been
having a traumatic time following the fire at the Vicarage and details of how
to contact her can be found on page 4. Amidst all the upheaval she has still
provided copy for this newsletter. We wish Caroline and her family well in the
coming months of disruption.
In spite of having
advertised for a new editor in the last edition, no one has expressed interest
as yet. Please give it some consideration; I will gladly give any help in the
changeover, but I hope that I can bow out gracefully before too long!
There are a number of
events to enjoy over the festive season, including the Christmas Dinner and
Dance on 2 December, Bingo on 19 December (see page 10), the Cricket Club
Christmas Draw (see page 11) and the Carol Evening. For the carols I hear that
a visiting organist/pianist will lead the singing so bring all your good voices
with you to the Village Hall on 18 December (see page 7).
Meanwhile, may I wish
everyone a very Merry Christmas and a happy New Year.
Zena Knight
Glen Evans
Audrey
and daughter Margaret would like to thank most sincerely all the many kind
friends and neighbours for their cards, letters and lovely flowers, also for
their presence in Church for the Funeral Service. Thanks, too, for the generous
donations to Sobell Home Care and St Helen’s Church, Albury.
Many
thanks also to Jane Boswell and all her kind helpers who supplied lovely cakes,
sandwiches, tea and other drinks in the Village Hall afterwards.
Historic Churches
Trust
We
would like to thank all those who supported us in sponsoring the “Stride and
Ride” in September. The amount forwarded to the Trust was £325, half of which
comes back to our own Church.
Anne
and Harold Edwards
National
Children’s Home
The
amount raised in September for the NCH amounted to £228.05. Thank you to all
who donated to this appeal.
Anne
Edwards
Appointment
of Clerk to the Council – at the November
meeting, Mrs Jenny Stoker was welcomed as the new Clerk, replacing Mrs Zena
Knight (see contact details below).
Audit 2005/2006 – this has been
completed.
Pelican crossing – David Robertson,
County Council Cabinet Member for highways and transport, attended the October meeting
with Richard Dix from the OCC department. There was much discussion but the
Government’s change of priorities for funding of the project means that the
crossing will not go ahead. The Chairman of the Parish Council has written to
Boris Johnson, MP about the matter and also put the Council’s concerns in
writing to David Robertson.
Planning – the Highways Depot at Milton Common has
been granted its application for improvements to access and lighting. There
has, however, been a stipulation that the increased lighting will be monitored
for light pollution at all stages of its implementation.
Manor Farm, Tiddington
has applied for the removal of the cow sheds and erection of four private
dwellings on the site. The Parish Council approved the application.
Tiddington with Albury
Parish Council Members
Chairman John Nowell-Smith 339650
Econ.development, businesses
Vice Chairman Janet Willis 339415
Environment, conservation, recycling,
waste
Councillor Roy Boughton 339497
Health and safety, transport
Councillor Ken Field 339671
Housing, planning, building & controls
Councillor Alan Stratton 339430
Sport, recreation, arts, tourism, grants,
awards, lottery
Councillor Angela Tremayne 279797
Planning; highways and Milton Common
Clerk Jenny Stoker 339709
Thelma Cottage, Tiddington
Bus service route 275 – the four-yearly
review of OCC supported bus services is due shortly and the Council would
welcome any comments on the 275 service through Milton Common. The commercial
service 280 through Tiddington is not affected by this review.
Police matters – Inspector Stewart
Dunbar will attend the Parish Council meeting on 4 December to discuss current
policing of the village and to answer any questions. Advanced notice of any
particular concerns would be welcome. Contact any Councillor or the Clerk.
Donations – a donation has been given to the South
and Vale Carers Centre, which has provided support to some villagers during the
past year.
Freedom of Information Act
Publication Scheme
Residents of the Parish
can see the records of the Council held by the Parish Clerk or learn where they
may be accessed. Records include minutes, financial information and responses
to planning consultations.
Application can be made to
the Clerk (Tel: 339709) and documents viewed by appointment. Any copies
required will be charged at 10p per page.
Christmas
and New Year
Refuse
collections
There will be no refuse collections on
Monday, 25 December and Monday, 1 January
There will be a collection on
Saturday, 30 December
Normal collections resume on
Monday, 8 January
Green Bins
for recycling
Remember these may be collected free from Tiddington
Garage
Refuse skips
Skips for non-recyclable waste are available
on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays at:
Wheatley Primary School, Littleworth
Road
8.00 – 12.00 or until full
Skips for non-recyclable waste are
available every Saturday at:
Thame Cattlemarket
8.00 – 12.00 or until full
There are no longer skips for garden waste
From your
Chairman
On 6 November we
welcomed Jenny Stoker to her first Parish Council meeting as Clerk. The meeting
was its usual great success, although we did miss Zena. It was worrying having
her in the “audience” as a member of the public!
The main concern of the Council is still the Pelican
crossing or rather the lack of it. Oxfordshire County Council member for
Transport attended the Parish Council meeting on 2 October and explained that
OCC had had to cancel the crossing because a change in government policy (not
enough fatal accidents) meant there was no longer adequate funding available. I
have since written to our MP, Boris Johnson, who has taken the matter up with
the Ministry of Transport. The Junior Minister responsible has put the blame on
the County Council (surprise, surprise) so we are no further forward. However,
we are not giving up.
Inspector Stewart Dunbar will be attending the Council
meeting on 4 December. If you have any concerns you would like him to discuss
please let me know and attend the meeting at 8.00pm.
A very Happy Christmas.
John Nowell-Smith
From your
District Councillor
The main item of
SODC business that affects our Parish has been the Site Allocations Plan
Document – Issues and Options.
The Parish
Council broadly accepted the proposals that new building should be centred
round the towns of Wallingford, Thame and Henley, with perhaps appropriate development in
some of the larger villages – of which we are not classed as one.
However, the
Council firmly opposed the creation of any new settlements, particularly that
on site 24 to the East of Milton Common. This is larger than but comprises the
site of a proposed new town which was rejected some 18 years ago and is not
part of the SODC Local Plan.
I should say that
the Plan under review is only a discussion document, part of which invited
landowners to identify land which they would be prepared to make available for
development and does not contain any proposals in that regard. Great Haseley,
Great Milton and Little Milton have all written to SODC opposing any
development between the Chiltern Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the
Oxford Green Belt. It is to be hoped that SODC will take notice.
PS All the local
Parish Councils mentioned above have agreed not to refer to the new site as
Stone Bassett.
John Nowell-Smith
The Old Rectory
Albury
Tel: 339650
From your County Councillor
Pelican
Crossing in Tiddington on the A418
Cllr David Robertson, the Oxfordshire County
Council Cabinet member responsible for highway issues, together with Richard Dix,
the officer in charge of highway safety, attended the October meeting of the
Parish Council. They discussed the
decision not to proceed with the long awaited Pelican crossing in the middle of
Tiddington. Whilst they listened to our
complaints they also confirmed that due to the Government changing the criteria
they would not proceed with the planned crossing. I find this a waste of Council Tax payers’
money as they had already spent money on the project in doing the surveying and
design work. During the next few weeks I
will be seeking to find out how much was spent and why the project estimated
costs were so high at £80,000 compared to the £40,000 we were told. A crossing
in Stadhampton some six years ago cost, I believe, approximately £25,000. Government criteria do change and we must
keep the Tiddington crossing at the top of the agenda.
Road Traffic
Issues at London
Road, Milton Common
The warning red-surfaced areas and 30mph roundels on
the road and white gates at the sides of the road at the entrance to the 30mph
limit have now been completed. I
understand from residents that this has resulted in many more motorists
observing the speed limit.
Bus Services
The Oxfordshire County Council subsidised routes
in our area are currently being assessed for decisions about their future to be
taken in the Spring of 2007. I would
like to hear of any suggestions for new services or alterations to current
services, which would have popular support and could be examined as part of the
review.
Did you know that there is a bus frequency routes
guide available for the whole of Oxfordshire?
If you would like a copy please call Ian Connick on 01865 815088 or
email him at: ian.connick@oxfordshire.gov.uk
Oxfordshire
2007
In 2007 we celebrate the 1000th
anniversary of the County of Oxfordshire. There are many events being planned
throughout the County. For details
contact: Oxford Inspires, Central Library,
Westgate, Oxford, OX1 1DJ or look at the very
interesting web site: www.oxfordshire2007.com
Please feel free to contact me about County
Council issues that concern you.
My contact details are as follows:
Address: 50
Hardings, Chalgrove, Oxford, OX44 7TJ.
Home Telephone: 01865
891169
Email: david.turner@oxfordshire.gov.uk
David Turner, County Councillor
20
November 2006
Recycling
News
Have you ever wondered what happens to the items
you put in the Clothing Banks?
70% are re-used as clothes.
Any un-wearable items are sold to merchants to be
recycled as factory wiping cloths.
Trousers and skirts are sold to the “flocking”
industry, which shreds them for fillers in car insulation, roofing felts,
loudspeaker cones, panel linings, furniture padding, etc.
It is estimated that more than one million tonnes
of textiles are thrown away every year, with most of this coming from household
sources.
So by going to the Clothing Bank you are not
wasting your time.
Janet Willis
From the
Vicar
Following the fire at
Holton Vicarage, Caroline and family will be living for the next few months at
the following address:-
North End
New Place
Ladder Hill
Wheatley Tel no: 01865 873451 (unchanged)
OX33 1HY Email not available at the moment
Notes from a
Licensed Lay Minister
(Caroline has asked me to
do this!)
Christmas is coming, with carols in the air, even
in the supermarkets. The carols repeat the story of Jesus’ birth as it is
recorded for us in the Bible. It is a story of contrasts. Christmas radiates
from the holy child, a tiny baby born in difficult circumstances. Who would
want to have their first baby so far from home? A favourite children’s carol
reminds us of the family’s hard situation:
Away in a
manger,
No crib for
a bed…
The Czech carol consoles the baby:
Little Jesus, sweetly
sleep, do not stir;
We will lend a coat of
fur.
And yet this is the Son of God. The little town of
Bethlehem sleeps too, unaware that:
The hopes and fears of all
the years
Are met in thee tonight.
The elderly Simeon recognizes salvation in the
child Mary and Joseph have brought to him. The prophetess Anna, now 84 years
old, responds in the same way. These two venerable people welcome the tiny baby
on whom so much depends. They make a gracious picture of age and infancy.
There is also a contrast between the poor and
rich. The shepherds have little to offer except their worship, but that is all
that matters on that first Christmas night, and we follow their example each
year. Later, the Magi come with valuable and prophetic gifts, perhaps of
practical use on the flight of the holy family from Herod?
I once saw a magnificent performance of one of the
cycles of medieval mystery plays. The whole Gospel story came together in one
coherent whole. It was an outdoor production, starting on a lovely summer
afternoon. By the end, it was dark and the lights came on for the conclusion,
where the large cast divided into good and bad, going to their respective
places at the Last Judgment. All who had shown the least sign of accepting
Christ were received joyfully by the angels. We seldom see people as wholly
good or bad nowadays: after all, who are we to judge? But sometimes our world
seems all various shades of grey, and this can be confusing. The Christmas story, on the other hand, is
full of visual images of the contrast between darkness and light. St John sees Jesus as “the true
Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world”, but “the darkness
comprehendeth it not” (John, chapter 1, verses 9 and 5, respectively, in the
King James’ version). The love of God is shown to us in the birth of his Son,
come among us to live a human life and die a human death.
The world we live in is also full of contrasts,
and our sophisticated communications bring into our homes pictures of problems
on a global scale, such as drought and flood, often in the developing world. At
this time of all times the charities that do such valuable work in the disaster
areas remind us of the plight of those forced to leave their homes with little
hope of returning. There are parallels here with the flight of the holy family
into Egypt: did Joseph and Mary know
whether they would ever get back to Nazareth? Charities have for many
years been sending us catalogues of gifts made in the developing world. More
recently, they have been inviting us to send virtual presents. Christian Aid,
for example, advertises a disaster-survival kit. £10 will supply items such as
lentils, rice, potatoes, oil and other essentials for a family who have lost
their home. Your friend gets a card: the family gets the potatoes.
When disaster strikes someone we know, we feel an
urgent desire to help. What I have just said about being forced to leave home
may have reminded us of our own vicar and of the courage and cheerfulness she
and her family have shown after the fire at the vicarage. The church and the
vicarage, of course with our much loved vicar, are important to us: we could
not imagine the village without them. We
shall be very glad when Caroline and David, Sarah and Joshua, can return, with
their home restored. We shall also be
very glad when our church has been repaired, and we are very grateful indeed to
all who have set the Friends of St Bartholomew’s off to such an excellent
start. (“Start” is the operative word, of course. There is a long way to go
still).
Christmas is a time when the church windows shine
in the dark night as we go to the midnight services in our
respective villages, and there is a sense of wonder in the air. Whether we have
children in the house or not, we think of their excitement as they look forward
to the Day itself. It is a time to remember our own childhood and send messages
to old friends and new ones. A very happy Christmas to everyone! And here to finish is an old riddle for any
child who hasn’t heard it already:
What’s in the church
But not the steeple?
The parson has it,
But not the people.
(answer on page 12)
Marian Brown
FROM
THE REGISTERS
FUNERAL
Friday
3 November
Glenville Rees Evans,
aged 81, followed by Cremation
May
he rest in peace and rise in glory.
It was lovely to see so many in Church for the
funeral.
Caroline
Glen Evans
The donations in aid of
Sobell Home Care and St Helen’s Church amounted to £1443.40. The Parochial
Church Council very much appreciate Audrey’s requests.
St Helen’s Church Bazaar
On behalf of the
Parochial Church Council, I would like to thank everyone who supported the
Bazaar. The amount raised was £579.80. A special thank you to all the helpers.
Anne Edwards
Christingle Service
St Helen’s Church, Albury
Sunday, 10 December, 2.00pm
On Saturday, 9 December at 2.00pm
there will be craft activities for
the
children in the Church to prepare for the Christingle Service
Glen Evans
Glen Evans died on the 20
October 2006
after an illness faced with much courage and dignity.
Glen and Audrey moved to Tiddington in 1981, two
years before he retired. He served for 27 years as Headmaster of Wheatley CE
Primary School, and left an unforgettable mark on the lives of the hundreds of
children who were fortunate enough to be guided by him. He was much respected and led the school with
authority and commitment. He kept in touch with many of his pupils, following
their careers with great interest.
After his retirement Glen became an active member
of SSAFA, the Soldiers’, Sailors’ and Airmen’s Families Association, and of the
Red Cross Disabled Club. He also became a member of Tiddington Parochial Church
Council and continued his involvement with the Masons in Thame and Oxford.
He contributed a great deal to village life. He
was a Vice President of Tiddington Cricket Club and also of Wheatley Rugby
Club. He followed both clubs keenly. He
attended many a WI or UNIT outing with Audrey and particularly enjoyed the Ascot visits.
He was a well known figure around the village and,
until the last few months, could be seen most afternoons striding out, enjoying
his walks. He knew the footpaths in the area extremely well.
My family and I have known Glen and Audrey since
they moved to the village. My late
husband and Glen became very good friends and enjoyed many walks with Tyson,
discussing everything and anything under the sun. They both shared a common
interest in Rugby and attended many Welsh
and English Internationals together. (Glen supporting Wales, David England!)
He took a great interest in our children and
supported Nathalie when she applied and, through him, joined the Royal Masonic Hospital, Hammersmith for her
nurse training. He always wanted to know what Ben was up to and gave very valuable
advice whenever it was requested. They both respected him very much.
He was a much esteemed member of the village and
treated everyone with an old fashioned courtesy and charm which were very
endearing.
He had many friends from all walks of life and
this was reflected at his funeral by the large number of people who
attended. He will be much missed.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Audrey and
Margaret.
Maureen Marchant
Carol Evening
Monday, 18 December, 7.30pm
Tiddington Village Hall
Community singing with coffee and mince pies in the interval
In aid of Cancer Research UK
Tickets: £2.00 for
adults
£1.00 for
children
Available
from: Anne Edwards 339794 or: Pauline Field 339671
Yoga Classes
– Christmas Break
Classes will finish for the Christmas break on
Thursday, 30 November and will recommence on Thursday,
25 January 2007.
Wishing you all a very merry Christmas and I look
forward to seeing you all in the New Year.
Yvonne Cartwright
Poppy Appeal
November 2006
The Tiddington with Albury collection amounted to
£334.61. Many thanks to all.
Freda Brown, Pam Byrne
and Joan Manning
Waterstock & Tiddington W.I.
In October, John Chipperfield gave us some amusing
anecdotes of his work as a journalist on the Oxford Mail and Times and the
history of the origins of the local papers was very interesting.
We had nearly a full house for our November meeting and
it was good to welcome visitors too. Sylvia Vetta brought some of the antiques
she has collected over the years and, following a short talk she had everyone
pairing up to answer quiz questions on who, where and when the provided
examples were made. This provoked lots of discussion and there was a real buzz
to the meeting. Sylvia Vetta also kindly chatted to individual members who had
brought their own antiques to learn more about.
Several members attended the Autumn Group Meeting at
Sydenham in October. Unfortunately the speaker, coming from Headington, got
caught up in the traffic chaos which ensued following an accident on the M40
and arrived too late to give his talk. Sydenham’s president, however, calmly
found two members who volunteered short talks and the evening ended very
happily. We had a chance to catch up and chat with fellow members from
neighbouring institutes.
Many members generously provided pots of all kinds, some
empty, others filled with plants, jams, soaps, etc for the table top sale at
Holton Village Hall in November. We made some money for our own funds as well
as contributing to Holton WI,
whose members voted our stall the best presented and dressed. Praise indeed!
Several members will be looking forward to attending the
County annual event, Christmas Lights, at Oxford
Town Hall on 4 December. Two of our
members will be “performing” on stage as they are on the organising committee,
but the audience join in, making a festive start to the Christmas season.
Instead of a meeting in December, we shall be going out
on the evening of the 14th for Christmas dinner, this year to Common
Leys Farm restaurant on Waterperry Common. We look forward to a convivial
evening together and will exchange Christmas presents.
On 11 January, we have a visit from Glyn Lewis, a
representative of the Thames Valley
and Chiltern Air Ambulance, who will talk about this worthwhile service,
totally funded by voluntary contributions.
Members are reminded that subscriptions will be due in
January and next year everyone will receive eight issues of a magazine through
the post.
A date for your diaries – in the new year on 10 February,
we are having another quiz evening – very popular a year ago. Tables of 8 to a
team or make up a team on the night. Bring your own supper and drinks. Tickets
available from Anne Purnell (Tel: 279429) or Maureen Marchant (Tel: 339300)
Our meetings are held on the second Thursday in the month
at 7.30pm in Tiddington Village Hall
and visitors and new members are very welcome.
Zena Knight
Tel: 339340
0845
8 505 505
The single number for non-emergency calls
Did you
know?
John Price was executed for robbery on 7
March 1785
and his body was gibbeted on Milton Common. Anyone know any more details for
inclusion in the next Newsletter?
(from Oliver’s City of Oxford Almanack, 1929)
(in Oxfordshire Record Office, Cowley)
Milton Common NHW (West
Side)
In recent months I have been busy with
local youths causing problems. We have to remember we were all young once but
some take the biscuit and make life for their victims and parents difficult.
Recent burglaries in the Oxford and Reading area have
been occurring around 19.00 hrs early evening, the offenders forced a rear
window and when challenged said they were from the Neighbourhood Watch and were
checking the house was secure. Do not
let anyone in your home without checking ID cards. NHW Co-ordinators do not
have ID Cards. People claiming to be from the Police can be verified by calling
08458 505 505.
Please remember this year when
putting the Christmas tree up, try not to place in front of patio windows as
this can be too tempting for our would-be burglar, with presents laid
underneath the tree.
If you are going to be away over
Christmas for long periods please let me know.
During the Festive Season Dog Watch
is going to be in Operation.
If pets need to be looked after
during holidays and your direct neighbours are away – please give me a call.
The NHW Oil group has proved
successful in keeping the price of oil down.
Welcome to all our new neighbours in
Milton Common, some newer than others. If you would like to be part of the NHW
scheme please give me a call.
Last but not least enjoy the festive
season, keep safe and a Happy New Year to you all.
Elaine Horne
NHW
Co-ordinator M/C
01844 279520
Tiddington Village Hall
By the time some of you read this, the annual Village
Hall Christmas Dinner may have already taken place (2 December), so if you
wanted to come and forgot to book a ticket, there’s always next year!
There is a special Christmas Carol Evening on Monday, 18
December, and we’ve got Christmas Bingo on Tuesday the 19th. It’s a
popular night, so get there early to bag a good seat (see page 10 for more
details). Every year we rely on villagers for their highly valued donations of
excellent prizes and this year is no exception. So please look out for a slip
through your door with details of when someone will call to collect anything
suitable you might have. We need prizes for 1 and 2 lines, a full house and of
course the raffle.
We’d also like to highlight the fact that this will be a
NO SMOKING event – which leads me conveniently on to discussions at our recent
Village Hall committee meeting.
Back in May 2005 we asked people to comment on smoking in
the Village Hall. There were many responses but with no clear majority wanting
a ban or not, so it was decided that polite signs asking smokers to consider
others might be a solution. These unfortunately proved to have little or no
effect.
However, with the increasing use of the Hall in recent
months, members of the Committee are receiving more and more comments about
“when we are going to introduce a smoking ban” rather than “if we are”. In the
summer of 2007 an England
wide ban on smoking in public places will be introduced. Early next year we
plan to begin work on refurbishment of the toilets and extending the kitchen.
One of the conditions of receiving a grant from South Oxfordshire District
Council to help us do this was that a smoking ban would be introduced. It was
therefore decided (following great debate and a vote by all committee members)
that a ban on smoking in the Village Hall be introduced from 1 January 2007.
Our November meeting was also the AGM and I’m really
pleased to welcome Mike Robinson and Janet Willis on to the Committee.
Have a great Christmas and best wishes for 2007.
Alan Stratton, Chairman
Tiddington Village
Hall Committee
Tel: 01844 339430 or
278534
Tiddington Cricket
Club
Driving past the floods
at Ickford Bridges the other day made me wonder whether there was still a
hosepipe ban in place! I don’t know why I thought this other than the feeling
of a great injustice, having suffered two months of summer drought when water
was most needed and now when we don’t need it we have too much.
Thankfully until
recently the weather has been particularly kind in respect of the building work
taking place on the ground. The old pavilion was quickly demolished and removed.
All structural work underground is now complete and building above ground is
just about to plate level, ready soon for roof trusses. All internal bison beam
flooring is also in place. Hopefully it will be fully weathered well before
Christmas, at which point the weather can do what it likes!
Whilst pavilion costs
have been covered we still need to raise more money to avoid taking out loans.
In respect of this, this year’s Christmas Draw will take place in the Village
Hall on Thursday 21st December. First Prize will be £100 and a super
Christmas Hamper will be 2nd prize. All other prizes are donated.
Please contact Hellen Purnell should you wish to make a donation or require
additional tickets on 01844 338699.
Winter seasons for
Darts, Cribbage and indoor Aunt Sally are all in full flow with all teams
performing well. Amazingly the first of this year’s dart’s league tables show
our “B” team leading their section. This we believe is a first!
On a more serious note
this years AGM is the most important meeting for a number of years, not only
because we need to elect a new Chairman, but with a new pavilion likely to be
opened in Spring next year, it is a major opportunity to galvanise thoughts and
ideas on how the club should progress. This will take place in the Village Hall
on Sunday, 3rd December at 7.30pm.
This year’s players’
meeting held on 12th October was well attended and elected the
following Captains
Saturday 1st XI Jon Talbot
Vice Matthew
Maule
2nd XI Phil
Manning
Vice Nick
Edmondson
3rd
XI Ray Manning
Sunday Matthew Maule
Vice Richard
Manger
Phil Clark was elected
as Fixture Secretary.
A new Cricket Committee
has been elected to consider all matters cricket.
This comprises Neil
Smith, Michael Fisher, Riaan Krynaau and Phil Clark. We wish them well in this
new role, which will give new direction and purpose to everything involved with
cricket.
Even at such an early
time we wish everybody a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year.
Ray Manning
Wheatley
Library
Opening
Hours
Tuesday 2.00pm – 7.00pm
Wednesday 9.30am – 1.00pm 2.00pm
– 5.00pm
Thursday 2.00pm – 5.00pm
Friday 9.30am –
1.00pm
2.00pm
– 6.00pm
Saturday 9.30am – 1.00pm
The
Merry Bells, High Street, Wheatley
Tel:
01865 875267
Newington Nurseries
All Year Appeal
Meet a garden celebrity of the green and growing
kind! Members of the Elaeagnus family are real eye-catchers.
For year round colour and interest in your garden
look out for the evergreen members of the clan. Elaeagnus x ebbingei cultivars
are dense rounded, evergreen shrubs with elegant oval leaves. These plants have
suitably glitzy names – “Gilt Edge” reaches a height and spread of 4m and
produces attractive dark green leaves edged with gorgeous golden yellow
margins. “Limelight”, with a height and spread of 3m, is a little smaller but
no less striking. Its leaves are silvery when young and then become marked with
yellow and green in the centres.
For star quality try Elaeagnus pungens “Maculata”.
Put this plant centre stage in your garden. With its spreading upward growth,
“Maculata” is ideal as a specimen shrub. The glossy dark green leaves have rich
yellow centres making this plant really stand out from the crowd.
When it comes to where they can live, Elaeagnus are
much less picky than your average celeb! They will grow well in any fertile,
well drained soil. They do best in a sunny position although the evergreen
varieties can cope with some shade.
Along with stellar quality, elegance and style, these
plants are a practical choice too. Evergreen Elaeagnus bring year-round appeal
and structure. They are suitable in a number of garden situations including as
a specimen plant, in a shrub border. Some of the evergreen varieties are even
suitable to grow as a hedge.
Plus there’s more to Elaeagnus than stunning foliage.
Many produce exquisite little star-shaped flowers which can be fragrant
(depending on variety). “Maculata” produces pendent silvery white flowers in
autumn. “Quicksilver”, a deciduous variety, puts on a pretty show of yellow
flowers produced from silver buds which look great against its lance-shaped
silvery leaves. Sounds gorgeous! It’s easier than you might think to have a
celebrity in your garden!
For more inspiration and advice, visit Newington
Nurseries on the A329 just outside Stadhampton.
Tel: 01865 400533 ~ www.newington-nurseries.co.uk
South & Vale Carers Centre
Are you looking after someone?
Many
of you will know that there are people in your Parish who are sick, disabled,
elderly or frail. Often their greatest wish is to continue to live in their own
homes with as much independence and dignity as their conditions allow. NHS and
social and community services are struggling to provide the required level of
support needed.
For
most people in this position it is a relative, neighbour or friend that
provides the help they need. These unpaid carers spend many hours every week
looking after others; shopping, transporting, cleaning, cooking, washing and
dispensing medication and personal care.
Caring
for others can be rewarding but it can also be tiring and stressful. It is
important that carers remain strong, fit and healthy if they are to continue
helping the person they care for.
The
South & Vale Carers Centre is a local charity that provides support for
unpaid carers in your area. We visit people in their own homes and ensure that
they have access to the advice, benefits, respite and other services they need
to do a difficult job. All of our services are confidential and free.
If you are a Carer or you know a Carer who may benefit
from these services please contact us on 01235 510212 or write to 5 Lydalls Road, Didcot, OX11 7HX
or email carer@svcarers.org.uk
Thame and
District
Citizens
Advice Bureau
Opening Hours
Monday 10.00am-1.00pm Open
door
1.30pm-4.00pm Appointments
Phone
advice
Tuesday 10.00am-1.00pm Appointments
Phone
advice
Wednesday Closed
Thursday Closed
Friday 10.00am-1.00pm Appointments
Phone
advice
Advice line: 01844 214827
Appointments line: 01844 217186
An Outreach session will be
introduced soon at the offices of the United Reformed Church, Crown Square, Wheatley
on Monday mornings from 10.00am
Answer
to the riddle on page 6 - The
letter “R”